Bass Pro Shops celebrates 10th year as sponsor for National Hunting and Fishing Day

Conservationist and founder/CEO Johnny Morris serving as Honorary Chair

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bass Pro Shops is excited to sponsor National Hunting and Fishing Day this Saturday, September 24 with activities taking place across the country. The 2016 event marks the tenth year Bass Pro Shops has supported National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was established by Congress to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.

This year noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO is serving as honorary chair. A lifelong sportsman with a passion for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation, Morris is one of the country’s foremost leaders working to ensure natural habitats, wildlife and the outdoors remain healthy for future generations to protect and enjoy.

“America’s sportsmen and women are among our nation’s most active conservationists and it’s important we recognize and celebrate everything they do to protect outdoor habitat and ensure thriving populations of wildlife,” said Morris. “I’m proud to lend my support and raise awareness for hunters and anglers, America’s conservation heroes through National Hunting and Fishing Day and I encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy it!”

Morris joins a distinguished group that has included Jim Shockey, Eva Shockey, Craig Morgan, Bill Dance, T. Boone Pickens, Louise Mandrell, Hank Williams Jr., Jeff Foxworthy, Wade Boggs, Arnold Palmer, the USA Olympic Shooting Team, Tony Stewart and others.

Led by avid sportsman President Theodore Roosevelt, early conservationists urged sustainable use of fish and game, created hunting and fishing licenses, and lobbied for taxes on sporting equipment to provide funds for state conservation agencies. These actions were the foundation of the North American wildlife conservation model, a science-based, user-pay system that would foster the most dramatic conservation successes of all time.

Each year sportsmen and women are funding more projects that enable more public access areas to be open. Through license sales and excise taxes on equipment, hunters and anglers pay for most fish and wildlife conservation programs. On average, hunters spend $1,638 every year on the sport. Portions of these funds are allocated to support conservation.

Other National Hunting and Fishing Day 2016 sponsors include National Shooting Sports Foundation, Yamaha, Bass Pro Shops, Realtree, Smith and Wesson, Gunbroker.com, Keep America Fishing, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Safari Club International, National Rifle Association, Berkley and Izaak Walton League.

For more information, visit http://www.nhfday.org.

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